"It is generally impracticable to "discover by a touch in the vagina, "whether or not the uterus is impreg

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nated, till after the fourth month: "then the best time for examination is “in the morning, when the woman is fasting, after the contents of the "bladder and rectum have been discharged; and she ought, if necessary, "to submit to the inquiry in a standing

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posture; because, in that case, the "uterus hangs lower down in the vagina, "and the weight is more sensible to "the touch than when she is reclined. "One principal reason of our uncer

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tainty is, when we try to feel the neck, "the womb rises up on our pressing against the vagina, at the side of the

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os internum; and in some, the vagina "feels very tense; but when the fundus "uteri is advanced near the navel, the

pressure from above keeps down the os internum so much, that you can generally feel both the neck, and

"above that, the stretching of the un"der part of the uterus.

"In the first four months, the neck "of the womb may be felt hanging

down in the vagina, by pushing up the "finger by the side of the os internum; "but the stretching of the uterus, and upper part of the neck, cannot be

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perceived till the fifth, and some"times the sixth month; and even then, "the uterus must be kept down, by a "strong pressure upon the belly.

"The stretching of the fundus is "sometimes felt by the finger introduced "into the rectum, before it can be per"ceived in the vagina; because, in the "last method, the uterus recedes from "the touch, and rises too high to be "accurately distinguished, whereas the

finger being introduced into the rec

tum, passes along the back of the "womb almost to the upper part of the "fundus, which, in an unimpregnated

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"state, is felt flat on the back part, and 'jetting out at the sides; but the impregnated uterus is perceived like a large round tumour.

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"About the fifth or sixth month, the

upper part of the uterus is so much stretched, as to rise three or four "inches above the os pubis, or to the "middle space between that and the "navel; so that by pressing the hand "on the belly, especially of a lean wo"man, it is frequently perceived; and

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if, at the same time, the index of the "other hand be introduced in the vagina, "the neck will seem shortened, particu

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larly at the forepart and sides, and as "I have already observed, the weight "will be sensibly felt."

Having read the foregoing professional directions with what patience may be, suppose it be admitted that examination must be made by the assistant; still, upon that very considera

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tion or plea of necessity, and upon every other consideration in connexion therewith, such examination, as to all the peculiarities or symptoms adverted to, ought not to be till towards the time of the labor, and then assuredly, if made at all, should be by a woman. If the examiner be a woman, she will be satisfied with finding that all is right, and will patiently wait near, and be in readiness to assist, when the birth approaches; but if the examiner be a

man,

"But I must also feel them as a man,"

his examinations may be frequent and prolonged, for it rests alone with him in order to satisfy himself, at how early a time, to what extent, and how frequently he will resort to all or any of those peculiarities and particularities of examination, which, in professional language, have been described; and

subject to which, and to all the bodily and mental excitements occasioned thereby, a woman may find herself when near her delivery, and may remain one or two, or ten or twelve hours, or even for days together!

Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade.”

SHAKESPEARE.

Will any person, having the least feeling for female modesty, say that such modesty is not grossly violated, by a man being thus the examinant and attendant of a woman for hours-for days, -handling her wherever and in what manner he pleases, as often and for as long a time as he pleases, and when, during intervals of cessation from pain, she is (for any thing to the contrary) as sensible of the violations, as susceptible of natural feelings, and as capable of gratifying them, as at any time of her